Pique N' Your Interest

Preparing to get back on the saddle

My home was a long way away and I was cursing everyone who had ever talked me into doing a Loonie Race as well as all those people who said the Green Lake Loop "wasnt bad."

I kept saying over and over again "its got to start going downhill soon, its has got to start going downhill soon."

And it did.

But the downhill portion of the Green Lake Loop is a steep loose gravel situation. Your back wheel spins out all the time and soon I was over my handlebars, holding a hand that was ripped and bleeding, head spinning, totally stunned.

I was pissed off and at that point I wasnt just cursing everyone who had talked me into this, I was ready to throw some punches.

When I rolled into Gone Bakery in Alpine near the end of the pack, I was a different woman. I was so dazed and confused and shivery and sore that I couldnt even drink my beer. That should give you some indication of how bad I was feeling!

Ah, the first Loonie Race of the season. Even now I shudder to think about it. I know its just around the corner and I am so wholly unprepared for it.

While were on the topic of shuddering I have to admit that I get a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about Whistlers newest trail, Comfortably Numb, which I have yet to do.

The trail opened late last season so I got out of it pretty easily.

Im thinking Comfortably Numb is going to come up in conversation around mid-June. Theres no way Ill be good enough shape to do it at the point, if indeed Im ever in good enough shape to do it.

So Im going to have to come up with a pre-planned list of excuses to keep me off that trail.

Now to be fair, Ive heard nothing but great things about Comfortably Numb. But you have to look at the source of this praise. It all comes from what I would call hard-core mountain bikers. (I consider most people in Whistler hard-core.)

I on the other hand like to meander through Train Wreck and stop and talk about the actual train wreck for 15 minutes or so while I catch my breath. Or I like to take in Shit Happens with a good long break splayed out on the rocks midway through the trail.